AMD Ryzen 7 5800X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X edges out the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H by a razor-thin margin. The AMD part scores 29,123 on average, while the Intel chip posts 29,093, a difference of just 0.1%. Both sit at the 81st percentile of all CPUs, making them statistically indistinguishable in overall performance.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H takes the single-core crown. It wins PassMark single-thread with 3,521 versus 3,445 for the Ryzen, a 2.2% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel extends its lead to 7.4%, scoring 1,700 against AMD's 1,574.5. However, in Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD fights back with a 265.5 score versus Intel's 244, an 8.8% win.

Q: Which chip dominates in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is the clear multi-threaded victor. It wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, including all the major multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 15,476 against Intel's 11,875.5, a commanding 30.3% lead. PassMark multithread shows a 23.7% advantage (27,732 vs 22,422), and Cinebench R15 multi-core reveals a massive 51.8% gap (2,608.5 vs 1,718).

Q: Are there any workloads where the Intel chip wins despite its multi-thread deficit?

A: Yes, but they are narrow. Intel wins PassMark floating-point math (54,867 vs 52,639, a 4.1% edge) and PassMark physics (1,482 vs 1,364, an 8% advantage). It also takes both PassMark single-thread tests by 2.2%. These wins suggest Intel has an edge in certain floating-point and lightly threaded scenarios, but the margin is modest.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H has 14 cores and 18 threads. Despite having fewer cores, AMD wins most multi-threaded tests, which points to a significant per-core efficiency advantage for the Zen 3 architecture.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, slightly ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H's 4.60 GHz. The base clocks are closer: 3.80 GHz for AMD versus 3.60 GHz for Intel. These clock differences partially explain AMD's single-core win in Cinebench R15, though Intel's newer architecture counters in other single-thread tests.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is the definitive choice for multi-threaded productivity. It wins 10 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, and its multi-core wins are often lopsided — a 51.8% margin in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 30.3% in R23 multi-core. For anyone running render farms, video encoding, data compression, or encryption workloads, the Ryzen's 8 cores and 16 threads deliver substantially more throughput than Intel's 14 cores and 18 threads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, meanwhile, is the pick for single-thread-sensitive tasks and mobile deployments. It wins PassMark single-thread by 2.2% and Cinebench R23 single-core by 7.4%. Its 28W TDP versus AMD's 105W TDP makes it the obvious choice for battery-powered laptops, though the data pack does not include power efficiency benchmarks. Intel also holds wins in floating-point math and physics, suggesting an edge in scientific or simulation workloads that rely on those operations.

For a desktop workstation where multi-core grunt is paramount, the Ryzen 7 5800X is the data-backed recommendation. For a thin-and-light laptop where single-thread responsiveness matters and thermal headroom is limited, the Core Ultra 5 135H is the logical selection. The overall averages are nearly identical, but the performance profiles diverge sharply by workload type.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 2,608.5 against Intel's 1,718 — a 51.8% landslide. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. The PassMark extended instructions test shows a similar story: AMD scores 23,573 versus 15,028, a 56.9% advantage. Data encryption also favors AMD heavily, with 21,191 versus 15,026, a 41% gap. Data compression follows at 37.3% (345,414 vs 251,651), and prime number finding shows a 39.3% edge (124 vs 89).

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test delivers a 30.3% win for AMD (15,476 vs 11,875.5), and PassMark integer math shows a 29.2% advantage (94,969 vs 73,509). PassMark multithread gives AMD a 23.7% win (27,732 vs 22,422), while random string sorting is 22.2% better (35,401 vs 28,980). Cinebench R15 single-core is closer, with AMD ahead 8.8% (265.5 vs 244).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H's wins are narrower but consistent. The largest is Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel scores 1,700 versus 1,574.5, a 7.4% margin. PassMark physics shows an 8% advantage (1,482 vs 1,364). Floating-point math is a 4.1% win (54,867 vs 52,639), and both PassMark single-thread tests show a 2.2% edge (3,521 vs 3,445). Notably, Intel's wins are all below 10%, while AMD has five wins above 30%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every fundamental specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H has 14 cores and 18 threads. AMD's base clock is 3.80 GHz versus Intel's 3.60 GHz, and AMD's boost clock is 4.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. The TDP difference is stark: 105W for AMD versus 28W for Intel.

The socket and platform differ completely: AMD uses Socket AM4, while Intel uses BGA 2049, confirming the Intel part is soldered for mobile use. AMD supports DDR4 memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s. AMD supports ECC memory; Intel does not. AMD offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while Intel offers PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes. AMD has no integrated graphics; Intel includes Arc Xe-LPG 96EU. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier; the Core Ultra does not. Launch MSRP is $449 for AMD and $342 for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two is generational and philosophical. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X uses Zen 3 architecture on the Vermeer codename, built on a 7nm process at TSMC. It packs 4,150 million transistors into a 74 mm² die. The cache hierarchy is per-core: 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and a 32 MB shared L3. This large L3 cache is likely a major contributor to AMD's multi-thread dominance, as it reduces memory access latency across all eight cores.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H uses Meteor Lake architecture, also on a 7nm process but at Intel's own foundry. Its cache structure is different: 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and only 18 MB shared L3. Intel's transistor count and die size are not listed in the data, but the smaller L3 cache suggests a different design philosophy. Intel's core count advantage (14 vs 8) is offset by this smaller shared cache, which may explain why AMD wins multi-threaded tests despite fewer cores.

Intel's memory bandwidth advantage is significant — 89.6 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s — yet it does not translate into benchmark wins. This suggests AMD's Zen 3 architecture extracts more performance per byte of memory bandwidth, likely due to the larger L3 cache. The Intel chip's integrated Arc Xe-LPG 96EU graphics also indicates a different target: mobile all-in-one designs where a discrete GPU is optional.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X wins in every multi-threaded productivity category. Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core tests show 51.8% and 30.3% leads, respectively. Data compression, encryption, extended instructions, integer math, prime number finding, random string sorting, and PassMark multithread all favor AMD by margins between 22.2% and 56.9%. If the workload is CPU-bound and heavily threaded, the Ryzen is the undisputed choice.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H wins in four distinct areas. First, single-thread performance: it takes both PassMark single-thread tests and Cinebench R23 single-core, with margins from 2.2% to 7.4%. Second, floating-point math, where it leads 54,867 to 52,639. Third, physics simulations, with a 1,482 to 1,364 score. Fourth, the mobile segment: its 28W TDP and BGA 2049 socket make it a laptop part, while the 105W TDP and Socket AM4 of the Ryzen are desktop-bound.

The data suggests a simple rule: pick Intel for lightly threaded, floating-point-heavy, or mobile workloads; pick AMD for anything that scales across cores. The 81st percentile ranking for both confirms they are peers in overall capability, but the workload distribution could not be more different.